Staff Picks

We asked our staff to jot down their top road and mountain bike picks and let you know why they top their lists. So, if you're not sure which bike to buy or you just want to see how your bike compares, here's an excellent resource.

• Ryan Littlefield
  
  Road: TIME RXR
  I spent most of 2008 riding more than a handful of bikes to open my eyes to something different than my Time VXRS Ulteam. Among the bikes I rode were a Colnago C50, an Orbea Orca, a Scott Addict, as well as a Look 585 and 596 model. I spent at least a month on each bike and found likable ride qualities in all of them. That being said, none of the bikes were capable of replacing the overall, do-everything ride quality of the Time. What really opened my eyes was the new frame that Bouyge Telecom riders were riding at the Tour in 2008. The new RXR Ulteam quickly hit the cycling websites as a mix of the VXR Ulteam and Time RXR Time Trial frame. For sure it looked cool, but the fact that the pro riders were not racing it everyday left some doubt on whether it would be a great everyday bike. A year later and the pro riders of Bouyge Telecom are almost exclusively using the Time RXR frames. I have spent about four months on my RXR and absolutely love it. From the start, I was worried that the frame would be too stiff for the long rides. A lot of the new aero road frames are really stiff and are seen as race-only bikes. This is not the case with the RXR. The best analogy I can come up with is that if the VXR is the Audi A6, then the RXR is the S6. In other words, it is a little quicker in acceleration and has a stiffer feel in the drive train and has a slightly stiffer front end. At the same time, it still has that refined ride quality of the VXR on rougher roads and during long days in the saddle. After about five times through the switchback at the top of Emigration, I was convinced that this was the most precise and confident descender that I have been on over the years. My RXR is built with Time HiTense wheels and Shimano Di2 electronic components. Getting to the point, I could not be any happier with the way this bike built out and rides. Their first shot at the wheel market is mostly concentrated on super high spoke tension in the rear wheel and the benefits can only be seen by taking them for a ride! For the Di2, much has been said about how well this group works and I totally agree. Front shifting is flawless and basically instantaneous while the rear shifting is ever so slightly faster than a mechanical system. The one interesting factor is that the 600 mile battery life is an extremely conservative claim. All in all, this bike has really got me excited and and it is hard to see how they can improve on this!
  
  Mountain: Orbea Occam & Niner Jet 9
  Mountain bikes still pose a challenge to pick one bike to do it all. I look at them like skis, certainly there is one ski that would suit your needs for the whole year but that does not mean that a slalom ski is the best ski for a powder day. That being said, my MTB fleet is down to two: an Orbea Carbon Occam and a Niner Jet 9. Both bikes are full suspension and approach the all-round motive from very different angles. The Occam, built on the Occam Razor principle of the simplest solution is the best one, is a single pivot, 5 inch travel bike that comes in under 26 pounds. It has Fox suspension all around with a Talas up front and a RP23 in the back. It definitely handles much quicker and climbs more efficiently than I originally thought it would. The carbon main frame has a very nice sculpted shape similar to the Orbea Orca road bike that provides a nice contrast to the welded, aluminum swing arm. The Niner Jet Nine is a 29 inch bike with 3.5 inch of travel. This bike definitely has a little more high-speed stability than the Orbea that comes in nice on long, open and fast downhills. I would also say that the bike has more of a carving sensation on turns that either comes from the larger tire ground contact patch and/or the longer wheelbase. Regardless, the bigger wheels are rarely a negative on anything other than the tightest switchbacks or on a really technical, rocky climb. The larger wheels help push this rig to just under 27 pounds with Continentals 2.4 inch wide tires. The superior traction of 29 inch wheels and great tires makes this bike climb like a dream and help eliminate spin outs that often happen when standing to crest a hill.
• Alison Littlefield
  
  Road: TIME VXRS Ulteam World Star
  TIME bicycles are simply the best road bikes that I have ever ridden. With the best road fork in the world and RTM technology, TIME bicycles cannot be beat. It is hard to quantify why the bike rides so well. As one of the only frames still made entirely in Europe, the French craftsmanship must be superior. It is a beautiful bike. I simply cannot say enough about the TIME VXRS Ulteam World Star.
  
  Mountain: BMC Fourstroke FS02
  Having ridden a number of mountain bikes recently, the BMC definitely stands out from the rest. For some reason, I just keep going back to BMC moutain bikes. I am more comfortable that I have ever been on a mountain bike. With a lot of lower back problems, BMC definitely treats me right. It has been a really fun to ride allowing me to be faster and more aggressive than ever!
• Reed Wycoff
  
  Road: Pinarello FP7
  I like this bike because it has all the euro-flare but the price is comparable to many other flagship models. It comes from Pinarello with the new Chorus 11-speed groupo, which I think is very underrated in comparison to the top shelf Sram and Shimano offerings. Overall this is a very appealing bike with a slight touch of modesty. You may have the nicest ride in the bunch, but you will not have to drop all your friends on the group ride.
  
  Mountain: Niner Air Nine
  My favorite mountain bike right now is the Niner Air Nine. This bike is a real sleek scandium hardtail with the added bonus of the bigger 29 inch wheels. Simple, smooth, and incredibly fast.
• Graham Greenlee
  
  Road: TIME RXR Ulteam
  My favorite road bike is the TIME RXR Ulteam. It is the perfect mix of stiffness and comfort. It has a smooth ride similar to the World Star Ulteam but with much more responsiveness. The fork is amazing. It performs especially well during sharp and high speed turns. It keeps the whole front end tracking exactly where you want it and is as stable as a rock.
  
  Mountain: Scott Ransom 10
  My favorite mountain bike is my Scott Ransom Limited. Having added an extra 2.5 inches of travel from my previous mountain bike for a total of 6.5 inches makes the trail a whole lot more fun. With Shimano XTR this bike shifts perfectly every time, even under load. The Fox Talas fork has a single turn dial to change the travel from 160 to 115 mm of travel which is nice for long and steep climbs. While the rear shock does have a lock out, I find that I never use it except on the road to the trail.
• Blake Vatne
  
  Road: Time Edge Racer
  This is one of the best bikes for the money, hands down! It is light, snappy and incredibly smooth. TIME has an unique approach to building a frame which makes it a one-of-a-kind ride experience.
  
  Mountain: Giant Anthem X2
  After adding more travel, but reducing weight in the frame this 4 inch travel bike is ready to handle any technical terrain you may encounter. With a full XT group, Fox suspension and Mavic wheels, this bike is a solid all around and still very affordable.
• Patrick Ramirez
  
  Road: Scott Addict LTD
  I own an addict and it is the quickest bike I have ever ridden. The addict is the benchmark for a light weight pro tour level bike. If you like our canyons, you need to experience them on the best climbing bike out there.
  
  Mountain: Giant Trance X2
  I love the Giant Trance X2 because it allows the rider to go further, faster, and ride longer. It is the perfect bike for a Moab trip. It will climb anything and everything but still give you all the control at speed for fast fun descending. This bike does everything.
• Caroline Whitby
  
  Road: Orbea Onix Dama
  It is an awesome carbon bike that climbs great up the canyons and also handles well on long rides. The specific geometry for women is great for smaller women who still want a high performing bicycle.
  
  Mountain: Giant Anthem X W
  This bike offers a race ready component group with specific geometry for women at an awesome price. It is a lightweight frame which lets you climb fast and the 4 inch Maestro suspension handles great on any descent.
• Gary McLaren
  
  Road: Pinarello Prince
  I own it, I love it.
  
  Mountain: Niner Air 9
  Kermit The Frog green, 29 inches of fun and an amazing ride....what more could you ask for?
• Shaun Brigdon
  
  Road: Colnago C50
  It is a classic.
  
  Mountain: Orbea Occam
  The Orbea Occam is my mountain bike pick for 2009. The Orbea single pivot technology provides a plush five inches of rear wheel travel in a simple lightweight design. The Occam is a sure bet for backcountry mtb adventures.
• Griffin Jones
  
  Road: Scott Addict R2
  I absolutely love this bike. Scott did not cut any corners on this one. It has a great wheel set in the Kysrium Elite, along with the all new 2010 Ultegra groupo. It is amazingly light and a great price. It is a great climbing bike and I am stoked to take it up the canyons this summer.
  
  Mountain: Giant XtC 29er
  This is their first 29er and they did a fantastic job. Giant has done a stand up job in making an attractive bike. It has pop to it and there is something about the look that makes you just want to ride it hard and fast.
• Cody Wignall
  
  Road: Time VRS Vibraser
  I cannot say enough about TIME bicycles. They are great looking with amazing ride quality. This bike looks great and looks one of a kind. Each bike is handbuilt in France in two factories and that is what makes TIME so unique.
  
  Mountain: Giant Anthem X2
  I believe you cannot beat this bike for the price. You get Shimano XT components and a Fox RL fork. This bike looks great and is race worthy. If your looking for an affordable bike to just have fun on or even compete on, the Giant Anthem X2 would be a great mountain bike for you.